The head chef at The Ritz London and this year’s Great British Menu winner talks about magic, being in the moment and his career-long mentor
I love Sherlock Holmes. I live near Baker Street and pass the advert for his museum on the Tube. My fish course for Great British Menu, Be Careful What You Fish For, was inspired by him.
I’ve always enjoyed magic – watching it, that is. I’m also a fan of Derren Brown. The mystery, the surprise moment… That’s what I hope to do with my food.
I’ve recently got into cycling, but food pretty much takes up my whole life. I don’t have time for hobbies. If I’m not cooking, I’m going out to eat somewhere – it’s all about food! I’m always looking for a new idea or ingredient. I find it captivating.
At 15 I was given a work experience placement at The Ritz and found myself immersed in all the demands of a busy kitchen. I thought, “I love this.” That was when I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Now I’m head chef there, and having had that experience makes it even more special to me.
You need a mentor, a figure you look up to, who you can go to for advice. I’ve always had John Williams, the executive chef at The Ritz, there for me. He’ll never give you the answer, but he will help you work out the right answer for yourself.
I tried to block out everything else when I was on Great British Menu. I’d put all my focus on cooking the dish and not let anything else get in my way. I would never have entered the competition unless I was confident in my cooking and knew that I’d do myself proud. It was the right
